President Donald Trump has officially signed an executive order imposing a further 40 percent tariff on imports from Brazil, raising the overall U.S. tariff rate on most Brazilian goods to 50 percent, the White House announced July 30. The order declares a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, citing Brazil’s handling of the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security, foreign policy, free speech rights of U.S. persons, and the American economy .
The expanded duties are explicitly framed as a response to what the White House termed serious human rights abuses, including politically motivated censorship, intimidation, detention, and prosecutions tied to Bolsonaro and his supporters, undermining the rule of law in Brazil . Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent singled out Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of acting as both judge and jury in what he described as a U.S.-targeted witch hunt .
While the tariffs hit a broad range of export goods, several key Brazilian export sectors have been left exempt from the full 50% duty —including civil aircraft and parts, iron ore, energy products, orange juice, iron, steel, fertilizers, precious metals, wood pulp, paper, chemicals, and humanitarian goods . Industry insiders say these exclusions were likely negotiated amid pressure from both U.S. corporate interests and Brazilian diplomatic outreach .
The tariffs are scheduled to take effect on August 6, following an initial announcement that had set a start date earlier in the week . Even with exemptions in place, analysts estimate the effective tariff rate on Brazilian shipments will average around 30.8 percent, according to Goldman Sachs .
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sharply rejected the move, calling it unjustifiable political interference and vowing Brazil will resort to reciprocal measures under its trade reciprocity law if needed. Brasília affirmed its willingness to negotiate but insisted Bolsonaro’s legal issues remain non‑negotiable state affairs .
The new tariffs arrive amid mounting legal challenges in U.S. courts over Trump’s broad use of emergency executive powers to impose sweeping tariffs —cases that critics argue overstep the authority granted under IEEPA .
